All right. Lets talk about guage brands.

[SAVAGESAM]

I need advice on what brands are the best and why? Mounts? Prices/sources? Also what type of guages do people consider MANDATORY! Vs. nice to have that type of info? BTW I do not want to get rid of my grab handle, even though I love the look of the guages mounted there. T.I.A. Let the information flow!

[SmokeyWren]

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I need advice on what brands are the best and why?

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Assumming the ordinary, affordable gauges that most of us have, there's no significant difference in the accuracy of name-brand gauges such as ISSPRO, Autometer, DiPrico, Banks, BD, etc. The SPA Technique digital gauges should be a bit more accurate than the analog gauges, but you'll pay extra for that accuracy. So pick the one you like the style or the face or the color or the lighting. I prefer the 270º sweep gauges to the lesser sweep of most analog gauges, so I prefer the ISSPRO EV in an analog gauge. If I had the big bucks, I'd probably go with SPA Technique dual-digital gauges hooked up to alarms and flashing lights, etc. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] http://www.spatechnique.com/dualgauges/dualgauges.htm

If you want professional-grade very-accurate gauges they are available but very expensive. I don't even know the brand names, but ask anyone who builds experimental aircraft and they can tell you. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

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Mounts? Prices/sources?

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Since you want to retain your driver's side grab handle, then your best choice is to mount the gauges above the inside rearview mirror. Or if you like digital gauges, then consider the BD X-Monitor that will mount on the A-pillar below the grab handle. Click here. If you get the BD, then understand that the tranny temp will show about 10 to 15 degrees hotter than other gauges (because of where they put the sensor), so instead of 225 for the red line, use 235 or 240.

For price, you can get what you need in three ISSPRO EV gauges with an A-pillar mount for around $300 from several different sponsors of TheDieselStop. Or for two gauges in an under-cubby mount, as low as about $240 from www.dieselmanor.com . Autometers vary in price based on which style you choose, but their less-expensive styles are around $300 for a full 3-gauge set too. The SPA Technique gauges are a lot higher, but they may be a bit more accurate, too. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

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Also what type of guages do people consider MANDATORY! Vs. nice to have that type of info?

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If you don't tow and you don't hot-rod the engine, then you don't need additional gauges.

If you tow more than a rowboat, and you have an automagic tranny, then mandatory is a tranny temp gauge. The stock tranny temp gauge is almost useless, so get one with easy-to-read marking in the critical temp area of around 200 to 230. Anything below 200 is not important. Anything above 230 is too hot - your tranny is probably already turning into toast. So you care about 200 to 225 or a bit above the 225 redline.

If you tow heavy in hills and mountains, then you can get by without a pyrometer if you promise never to take the mountain at pedal to the metal. You can tug that trailer up the mountain at about 9/10ths go pedal with no worry. But if that doesn't sound like fun, then you need a pyrometer. Mount the thermocouple (sender) pre-turbo, then use 1,250º as your red line. When towing up the mountain, modulate the go pedal to keep the pyrometer showing 1,200º to 1,250º EGT - the same technique you use to modulate the go pedal to maintain a constant speed. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

If you hot-rod the engine with any sort of chip or programmer, then a pyrometer is mandatory. 1,250 EGT is the red line.

For towing or normal driving with a hot-rodded engine, the boost gauge is "nice to have". The red line is 25 PSI, but it usually goes up with EGT, so when balls out up the mountain, if you properly control EGT then you won't need to also worry about boost.

I don't know about racing or sled pulling or such things. Maybe the boost gauge is necessary for those activities. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[CorvetteGuy]

I like Autometer for the gauges, and as many as ya can get! LOL


Trans, Boost, And Pyro Are pretty standard for the "must have" gauges

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...Picture033.jpg

Im an info freak.. i have 11 total.

[Sorno]

[ QUOTE ]
I like Autometer for the gauges, and as many as ya can get! LOL


Trans, Boost, And Pyro Are pretty standard for the "must have" gauges

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...Picture033.jpg

Im an info freak.. i have 11 total.

[/ QUOTE ]I would get confused trying to find what gauge i want to look at. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[SAVAGESAM]

Thanks alot, I love this website (It's my homepage) I sure do like those dual guages, they are pricey though. Has anyone completely done away with their stock instrument panel and fabbed up a new one? Pics? Special thanks to Smokey.

[Jay Brunson]

CONFUSED??? Heck, with 11 guages I'd have a wreck.

I have Isspro's Boost, Pyro, and Trans Temp. If I had it to do over again I would probably get a real water temp guage instead of the boost. My "Check Engine" light tells me when my foot is on the floor and I am overboosting. I had hoped it would tell when my air filter was dirty...but it either does not tell you, or I cant read it right, or my air filter has never gotten dirty enough to tell by the boost guage (likely).

Anyway, I like the Isspro Ev's and it is always fun to have people get mad because their dealer did not tell them they could have guages from the factory. Mine really do look just like FOMOCO put them in. I ordered them from Diesel Injection Service (Lubbock, Tx) and they painted the pillar for me. Looks amazingly factory. DIS used to be a sponsor here but I have not seen them in a while.

I like the A-pillar mount so I cant really comment on mounting anywhere else.

Good luck,

Jay

[ryaneverk2]

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http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...Picture033.jpg

Im an info freak.. i have 11 total.

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Geez, you're an info freak!

[Bushwakd]

I chose DIPricol Optix. Good factory match and the lighting at night is highly visible and easy on the eyes. Shop around and pick a brand. The choice is yours.

[Jimmy3336]

I purchased the isspro triple gauge overhead kit and love it, easy to install,match great and looks great. People are always saying how good they look and how they look stock. They came from Diesel Manor, thepeople there were very helpful and had great instructions and the kit had everything that I needed to do the job and do it right.Hope this helps

[pabrannan]

I like my Lunars from Autometer, check my pics for mounting position.

Paul B

[SAVAGESAM]

The pics are worth a thousand words, thanks. Any more pics? Please let me know. So far, I'm thinking three above the mirror and three in a cubby mount. Which ones come closest to matching the color of my AIC? Or should I not even worry about matching them up?

[Teebird]

That's why old analog aircraft have two pilots, a flight engineer and a navigator. It's called "workload" and people to tend to take their eye off the road, or sky, with that much information. That's also why aircraft have a master warning and caution light to let the crew know that, heh, one of your gauges is off you better start looking around and find it. Sometimes too much of a good thing is bad.

[CSIPSD]

Overhead...

ALL...

I dont have a shot of just the A-pillar...

[AK6LPSD]

Autometer Phantom guages in A-pillar.

Same with lights on .

[SAVAGESAM]

I didn't know you could put four above or on the A pillar. I like the look of the auto meters. I got a lot to learn before I part with my hard earned.